Customer Reviews

Cornerstone

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The criticism of this album is well-documented--too many DeYoung ballads, not enough guitar-based rock. While I agree that "The Grand Illusion" and "Pieces Of Eight" are better rock albums, this one stands right up there as a pop/rock masterpiece. "Babe" is of course incredibly overplayed but is still a standout ballad, as is "First Time". Besides these songs, there are no other "sappy ballads" here. 2 out of 9 tracks as ballads is not a bad ratio. "Boat On The River" is mellow but a uniquely enjoyable Tommy Shaw tune--and NOT a ballad. "Lights", "Why Me" (the follow-up single to "Babe") and "Never Say Never" are good mid-tempo rockers. "Eddie" flat out rocks, as does "Borrowed Time". The chorus of "Love In The Midnight" is an example of the best of Tommy and Dennis when they collaborate together. In a nutshell, this album stands up musically to other Styx efforts while not quite as rocking as its predecessors.

As a side note, I totally disagree with those who say that Styx was a talentless band. Each member was musically talented in their own right, and the sum of those parts always made for an interesting and constantly changing sound. Those who call this band "the worst of corporate rock" simply don't like this type of music and should just stick to reviewing their annoying "political" and "alternative" bands or whatever crap they as well as the supposed "music critics" like. After all, you won't find me reviewing something like a Sonic Youth album any time soon.

The strength of Cornerstone is clearly the ballads. I can't hear "Babe" or "First Time" without envisioning a beautiful young memory in a tight sweater at a school dance. Even without the ballads, several things stand out about this album. First, "Borrowed Time" and "Why Me" demonstrate that STYX is still in touch with its roots. Second, "Lights" and "Never say Never" show a new and interesting feel to the group's style. Third, "Eddie" is a fabulous tail-twister for Senator Kennedy. Most of all, Tommy Shaw really showed why STYX brought him in with his unique and wonderful "Boat on the River". Overall, this is a very good album.

After turning up the volume on Pieces of Eight throughtout 1978 and the first part of 1979, Cornerstone was a bit of a letdown. Lights by Tommy is fine. I generally skip to Borrowed Time, Eddie and Love in the Midnight though after that. I think I've had enough of Babe for all time, but it did hit #1 and win a Grammy, so somebody out there has to like it. Kind of a 2nd cousin to Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are. I read the official review and was wondering if Daniel Durchholz has even listened to Borrowed Time. With the exception of a cool synthesizer into, which sounds nothing like 'horns', it's all hard guitar and actually kickstarts the CD back to life. Oh wait, he just got his songs mixed up. First Time by Dennis has the horns. Never listen to that one either :)

This is the first album I ever listened to with my first girlfriend and it holds a special spot in my heart. But that is not the only reason I am giving this album 5 stars . It is a masterpiece and should be taught in colleges on how to write Ballads. The songs have feeling and emotion in them. Some Ballads seem to have been scribbled on a piece of paper and thrown together the next day but there is heart and soul in these songs. I am very surprised First Time never made it to the No1 spot. But Babe overshadowed it.

1979's 'Cornerstone' is often panned and put down by Styx fans. True, it is very different from the Wooden Nickel-era Styx that released 'Lady' in 1972 and the early A&M years Styx that put out 'Equinox' and 'The Grand Illusion,' to name a few, but this isn't a bad Styx record at all.

In fact, I think it's well worthy of five stars. Sure, many people buy this for 'Babe,' the band's first and only #1 hit, but there is far more to 'Cornerstone' than just that one song.

For example, 'Borrowed Time' is a superb rocker from Styx. It starts off as somewhat of a melodic song, with some catchy keyboard lines from Dennis, and than the guitar riffs from J.Y. and Tommy start to kick in. It's one of my all-time favorite Styx songs.

Another great song is 'Lights.' John's drum intro is superb, and the lyrics are meaningful and powerful at the same time. It is definitely a must-listen for any Styx fan.

While this is not as good as 'The Grand Illusion,' 'Equinox' and 'Pieces of Eight' or maybe one of their earlier Wooden Nickel masterpieces such as 'The Serpent Is Rising,' it's still worth your time.

Styx could make ballads and rock and roll songs, and 'Cornerstone' proves it. If you've never checked out this record or your too afraid to, don't be. This record features many great tunes besides 'Babe.'

Overall, this is highly recommended for any Styx fan. The whole record is great.

Highly recommended. Not their best record, but still great.

ENJOY!!!

LOVE IN THE MIDNIGHT, LIGHTS, BOAT ON THE RIVER, EDDY (Ted Kennedy), and BABE are incredible songs. Everything else is forgettable. STYX fell apart during this album... and the scars never truly healed. Dennis' ego could not accept the "sea change" within STYX and this album reflected what became two bands in one... the Dennis DeYoung band and the Tommy Shaw band. This album has some great songs but no cohesiveness. Every other album that followed was similar in fractured structure (including the Number One album PARADISE THEATRE) until CYCLORAMA (Dennis was no longer in the band.)

So be forewarned, this album has some great songs... but no album cohesiveness.

Styx's ninth album Cornerstone was released in September of 1979.
The album is best remembered for singer/keyboard player/chief songwriter Dennis DeYoung's musical love-letter to his wife called "Babe". This song was Styx's first and only No. 1 hit and it helped the band get their third album in a row to Triple Platinum status and the first Top 3 charting album for the band peaking at #2 and it wouldn't be their last.
Led by Babe as well as the following Top 40 single, Dennis' classic about one's worries "Why Me" (which should have been Nancy Kerrigan's theme song from her attack at the hands of Tonya Harding), introduced us to a poppier sounding Styx (fellow prog rock band Genesis had changed their sound at that time as well yet no one complained).
The album experiments with some new sounds as well like horns, strings and conflicting musical styles as the brand of art rock Styx perfected was seen as dying and/or already out of style by 1979 thanks to New Wave and Punk changing the rock landscape.
Singer/guitarist/songwriter Tommy Shaw's "Boat on the River" was a great folk song which showed Tommy was not just full of rock music (like he claimed on Behind the Music) and could have been written by a European folk performer and the song almost didn't get released as band manager Derek Sutton said the song was deplorable but Dennis DeYoung told Tommy Shaw let's record it and it became the band's biggest European hit to this day.
Dennis and Tommy's collaborations were in full flow here as the two co-wrote the opening "Lights" which had Tommy on vocal (Dennis' music and Tommy's lyrics) and the hard rocking "Borrowed Time" (music by Tommy, lyrics from Dennis) which had Dennis on vocal and one of his best rock vocals ever and was the opening song on the Cornerstone/Grand Decathlon tour in 1979/80 and serve as first encore on the band's 1981/82 tour.
Dennis also contributed the ballad "First Time", which would have been a huge hit had if Tommy not complained like a 2-year old by threatening to walk out if it was released. First Time would have been a #1 if released.
Guitarist James "JY" Young wrote the scathing hard rocker "Eddie" about famed Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy, the last surviving of the Kennedy sons.
Tommy also had the melodic "Never Say Never" and the closing epic "Love in the Midnight" which started as a "Crystal Ball" part two with acoustic guitars and Fender Rhodes piano but turns into one of the best Styx tracks ever with a blazing JY solo and haunting orchestrations at the end.
Many fans scoff at this album but I like it alot, even today and still sounds great 28 years after its release.
I highly recommend Cornerstone!

Styx's 9th album and their 3rd in a string of 5 multi-platinum albums. This condidered by many their "ballad album" but really there are only 2 ballads in this album which means there is 7 other songs on here that really are enjoyable.

My Favorites on this one include the #1 hit "Babe" the second ballad "First Time" the hard-rocker "Borrowed Time" the thought provoking song "Lights" the catchy tune "Why Me" and the off-beat almost polkaish song "Boat On The River".

This is a great album to both continue and finish your collection with if you are a music fan you will buy this I know you will. This is truly a must have.

I was always a little bit unsure of this albums quality, based on reviews. But when I finnaly picked it up, it turned out to be fantastic. So what if it has a 'different sound.' The fact is some of the best songs came out of this album...borrowed time anyone? Don't put this down because of firt time, even that is a good track if you gave it a chance.

I bought this CD about a month ago and now I can't stop listening to it. It has such great songs like Lights, Babe, Eddie and many more. This is one of the best Styx CDs and I reccomend you buy it!!!